Cover

ABSTRACT

A cover for an apparatus including a substrate defining the cover and having an exterior surface; a layer over the exterior surface of the substrate; a first portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a first composition and defining a first portion of the cover; a second portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a second composition and defining a second portion of the cover; wherein the first portion of the cover and the second portion of the cover are substantially opaque in exterior ambient lighting and the second portion of the cover is translucent to backlighting.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a cover. Some embodimentsrelate to a user replaceable cover for a flip part of an apparatus thatoverlies and protects a display of the flip part.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Apparatuses with flip parts are known, such as clamshell mobiletelephones.

Typically the flip part is provided to protect a display of theapparatus which is placed on the interior surface of the flip part. Whenthe flip part is in the closed configuration, the display is protected.When the flip part is in the open configuration, the display is exposed.

A problem arises if one wishes to display information to a user whilethe flip part is in the closed configuration. If one places a furtherdisplay on the exterior surface of the flip part, the further display isexposed in the closed configuration and may be damaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a cover for an apparatus having a lightemitting display, the cover comprising: a substrate defining a threedimensional shape of the cover and configured to engage with theapparatus, the substrate having a first part configured to betranslucent and being positioned to overlie the display, wherein whenthe cover is attached to the apparatus, an output of the display isvisible through the first part of the cover.

This enables a display to be available at the exterior of a flip partwithout placing the display itself on the exterior of the flip part. Thedisplay itself is protected from scratching by the cover which extendsover the display. The translucent as opposed to transparent nature ofthe cover means that its optical properties are less affected byscratches.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a user replaceable cover for user attachmentto and user detachment from a flip part of an apparatus having a lightemitting display, the cover comprising: a substrate defining a threedimensional shape of the cover and configured to engage with the flippart of the apparatus, the substrate having a first part positioned tooverlie the display, wherein when the cover is attached to the flip partof the apparatus, an output of the display is visible through the firstpart of the cover.

This enables a display to be placed on the exterior of a flip part. Thedisplay itself is protected from scratching by the cover which extendsover the display. If the cover becomes damaged it can be replaced.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a cover for an apparatus comprising: asubstrate defining the cover and having an exterior surface; a layerover the exterior surface of the substrate; a first portion of thesubstrate, underlying the layer, having a first composition and defininga first portion of the cover; a second portion of the substrate,underlying the layer, having a second composition and defining a secondportion of the cover; wherein the first portion of the cover and thesecond portion of the cover are substantially opaque in exterior ambientlighting and the second portion of the cover is translucent tobacklighting.

The layer over the exterior surface of the substrate provides a uniformopaque finish to the first part of the cover and the second part of thecover. The presence of the second part of the cover is not thereforeapparent in ambient lighting. However, a light emitting display may bepositioned behind the second part of the cover when the cover isattached to the flip part of the apparatus and when the display isactivated, content of the display is visible through the translucentsecond part. This enables a cover with a uniform opaque finish tooverlie and protect a display.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a cover for attachment to an apparatushaving a light emitting display, the cover comprising: a substratedefining a three dimensional shape of the cover and having a exteriorsurface, wherein when the cover is attached to the apparatus, a firstpart of the substrate, configured to be translucent, overlies thedisplay; and a layer over the exterior surface of the substrate,including the exterior surface of the first part of the substrate, thatdiffusely reflects light, wherein when the cover is attached to theapparatus, an output of the display is visible through the second partof the cover.

The layer over the exterior surface of the substrate provides a uniformmatt finish to the first part of the cover and the second part of thecover. When a display, positioned behind the second part of the coverwhile the cover is attached to the flip part of the apparatus, isactivated, the content of the display is visible through the translucentsecond part. This enables a cover with a uniform matt finish to overliea display.

According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments of theinvention there is provided a user replaceable cover for attachment toand detachment from an apparatus comprising: a first lateral partextending in a first direction, a second lateral part disposed oppositethe first lateral part and extending in the first direction, a posteriorpart extending substantially in a second direction orthogonal to thefirst direction and joining the first lateral part and the secondlateral part, and an upper part having extremities and joining at theextremities the first lateral part, the second lateral part and theposterior part, wherein each of the first lateral part, the secondlateral part, the posterior part and the upper part has an interiorsurface and an exterior surface, the user replaceable cover furthercomprising: a plurality of sidewalls defined by the first lateral part,the second lateral part and the posterior part, wherein the sidewallsterminate at a lower edge for abutment with the apparatus; a facedefined by the exterior surface of the upper part; an anterior edgedefined at where the first lateral part, the second lateral part and theupper part terminate for abutment with the apparatus; a first posteriortenon extending from the interior surface of the posterior part; asecond posterior tenon extending from the interior surface of theposterior part; and an anterior tenon extending from the anterior edgeof the first lateral part.

The user replaceable cover may be attached to an apparatus and, inparticular, a flip part of an apparatus without undermining thestructural integrity of the flip part. The means for attaching the coverto the flip part uses projections extending from the interior surface ofthe posterior part and the anterior edge of a lateral part. Thecorresponding receptacles for receiving the projections are notpositioned at the lateral edges of the flip part of the cover and thismaintains the strength of the flip part 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of various examples of embodiments of thepresent invention reference will now be made by way of example only tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates, from a plan view, an apparatus in a closedconfiguration;

FIG. 1B illustrates, from a side view, the apparatus in the closedconfiguration;

FIG. 2A illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus in an openconfiguration;

FIG. 2B illustrates, from a side view, the apparatus in the openconfiguration;

FIG. 3A illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus with a coverremoved;

FIG. 3B illustrates, from a plan view, the exterior of the removedcover;

FIGS. 4A-4E illustrates, from a side view, cross-sections of the removedcover along the lines AA′, BB′, CC′, DD′, EE′ of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 5A illustrates, from a plan view, the interior of the removedcover;

FIG. 5B illustrates, from an end view, the interior surface of theposterior part of the removed cover;

FIG. 6A illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus in a closedconfiguration while it is in use with the removable cover attached and adisplay underneath the attached removable cover is not activated;

FIG. 6B illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus in a closedconfiguration while it is in use with the removable cover attached and adisplay underneath the attached removable cover is activated and thecontent of the display is visible through the cover;

FIG. 7 illustrates, a cross-sectional view of the attached removablecover and the display; and

FIG. 8 illustrates, a cross-section of the removable cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 6A illustrates, from a plan view, an apparatus 2 in a closedconfiguration while it is in use with a removable cover 20 attached. Adisplay 40 (FIG. 3A) positioned underneath the attached removable coverand is not activated. FIG. 6B illustrates, from the same plan view, theapparatus 2 when the display 40 underneath the attached removable cover20 is activated and content 60 of the display 40 is visible through thecover but the display 40 itself is not. The display 40 is thereforehidden behind the cover 40 until the display is activated i.e. its is“hidden 'til lit”.

The cover 20 may be a user replaceable cover for a flip part 4 of theapparatus 2. The apparatus 2 is described in more detail in relation toFIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B and the special means for attaching the cover 20to the flip part 4 without compromising the structural integrity of thethin flip part 4 is described in relation to FIGS. 3A-B, 4A-E, 5A-B.Some examples of the composition of the cover 20 are described inrelation to FIGS. 7 and 8.

In more detail, FIG. 1A illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus 2in a closed configuration, FIG. 1B illustrates, from a side view, theapparatus in the closed configuration, FIG. 2A illustrates, from a planview, the apparatus 2 in an open configuration; and FIG. 2B illustrates,from a side view, the apparatus 2 in the open configuration.

The apparatus 2 may be a mobile electronic device such as ahand-portable electronic device. The apparatus 2 may be, for example, apersonal music player, a personal computer, a e-book reader, a personaldigital assistant, a mobile cellular telephone etc.

The apparatus 2 comprises a first part 4 and a second part 6. The firstpart 4 and the second part 6 are arranged for relative rotation movementabout a hinge 8 between the closed configuration (FIGS. 1A, 1B) and theopen configuration (FIGS. 2A, 2B).

The first part is a thin flip that can flipped by a user's finger tochange the configuration of the apparatus 2 between open and closed. Theflip typically has a metal chassis and is stiff.

The hinge 8 may be biased to have two stable positions corresponding tothe open configuration and the closed configuration respectively.

In this example, a camera port 10 is located on an exterior of the flippart 4. The flip part 4 has a cover 20 that can be replaced orinterchanged by a user. The user is able to remove the cover 20 withoutthe use of specialized tools using only their hand and the user is ableto attach another cover 20 without the use of specialized tools usingonly their hand.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the interior of flip part 4 in this example has alarge display 12 and the interior of second part 6 has a user inputdevice 14 such as a keypad.

FIG. 3A illustrates, from a plan view, the apparatus 2 with the cover 20removed.

The flip part 4 comprises: display 40 and a plurality of receptacles.The receptacles are designed to received projections defined on ananterior edge 30 of the cover 20 and on the interior surface of aposterior part 22 of the cover 20.

The receptacles include a first anterior lateral receptacle 51, a secondanterior lateral receptacle 53, a first posterior receptacle 55, asecond posterior receptacle 57, a third posterior receptacle 59.

The display may be, for example, a light emitting display such as anorganic light emitting diode (OLED) display. A light emitting displaygenerates the light required to enable its content to be visible asopposed to a reflectance display which modulates reflected ambientlight.

The exposed flip part 4 has a raised portion 44, a lower portion 46 anda step 48 joining the raised portion 44 and the lower portion 46. Thelower portions has edges along its lateral and posterior sides forabutment with sidewalls of the cover 20.

The cover 20 is illustrated in FIGS. 3B, 4A-4E and 5A-B. FIG. 3Billustrates, from a plan view of the face 29 of the cover 20, anexterior of the removed cover 20. FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate, from a sideview, cross-sections of the removed cover along the lines AA′, BB′, CC′,DD′, EE′ which are defined in FIG. 3B and run in the Y direction. FIG.5A illustrates, from a plan view, an interior of the removed cover. FIG.5B illustrates, from an end view, the interior of the posterior part 22of the removed cover 20;

The cover 20 is in this example a unitary one-piece molded threedimensional cover 20 and comprises a posterior part 22, a first lateralpart 24, a second lateral part 26 and an upper part 28. Each part has anexterior surface and an interior surface.

A co-ordinate reference system is defined to aid description of thecover parts. The co-ordinate reference system comprises three mutuallyorthogonal vectors X, Y, Z.

The first lateral part 24 has a height h in the Z direction and extendslengthwise in the Y direction. It is narrow in the X direction and formsa sidewall of the cover 20.

The second lateral part 26 is disposed opposite the first lateral part24. The second lateral part 26 has a height h in a Z direction andextends lengthwise in the Y direction parallel to the first lateral part24. The second lateral part 26 is narrow in the X direction and forms asidewall of the cover 20.

The posterior part 22 has a height h in a Z direction and extendslengthwise in the X direction. It is narrow in the Y direction and formsa sidewall of the cover 20.

The posterior part 22, the first lateral part 24 and the second lateralpart 26 join together and form the sidewalls of the cover 20. Thesidewalls terminate at a lower edge 32 creating runners for slidingabutment with ledges of the apparatus 2.

The upper part 28 defines a face 29 of the cover 20. The upper part 28joins the first lateral part 24, the second lateral part 26 and theposterior part 22 at the extremities of the face 29.

An anterior edge 30 of the cover 20 is defined where the first lateralpart 24, the second lateral part 26 and the upper part 28 terminate forabutment with the apparatus 2.

The cover 20 comprises: a first anterior lateral projection 50; a secondanterior lateral projection 52; a first posterior projection 54; asecond posterior projection 56 and a third posterior projection 58.

A first anterior lateral receptacle 51 is defined adjacent a firstlateral edge of the step 48 of the flip part 4 and is sized to receive afirst anterior lateral projection 50 of the cover 20 when the cover 20is slid into an attached position. The first anterior lateral projectionextends in the Y direction from the anterior edge 30 of the firstlateral part 24. The first anterior lateral receptacle 51 has asubstantially rectangular shaped opening in the step 48 and across-section of the first anterior lateral projection 50 of the cover20 has a corresponding substantially conforming rectangular shape. Thefirst anterior lateral receptacle 51 may operate as a mortise and thefirst anterior lateral projection 50 may operate as an tenon when thecover 20 is attached to the flip part 4. The engaging combination of thefirst anterior lateral projection 50 and the first anterior lateralreceptacle 51 prevents the cover 20 being lifted-off the flip part 4 inthe Z direction unless it is first slid in the Y-direction to disengagethe projection 50 from the receptacle 51.

A second anterior lateral receptacle 53 is defined at the other secondlateral edge of the step 48 and is sized to receive a second anteriorlateral projection 52 of the cover 20 when the cover 20 is slid into anattached position. The first anterior lateral projection extends in theY direction from the anterior edge 30 of the second lateral part 26. Thesecond anterior lateral receptacle 53 has a substantially rectangularshaped opening in the step 48 and a cross-section of the second anteriorlateral projection 52 of the cover 20 has a corresponding substantiallyconforming rectangular shape. The second anterior lateral receptacle 53may operate as a mortise and the second anterior lateral projection 52may operate as an engaging tenon when the cover 20 is attached to theflip part 4. The engaging combination of the second anterior lateralprojection 52 and the second anterior lateral receptacle 53 prevents thecover 20 being lifted-off the flip part 4 in the Z direction unless itis first slid in the Y-direction to disengage the projection 52 from thereceptacle 53.

The first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the step 48 of theflip part 4 have symmetrically sloped profiles that substantiallyconform to sloped profiles of the lateral parts 24, 26 of the cover 20where they terminate at the anterior edge 30. The abutment of theconforming sloped profiles when the cover 20 is attached to the flippart 4 constrain movement of the cover 20 and prevent the cover 20 beinglifted-off the flip part 4 in the Z direction unless it is first slid inthe Y-direction to disengage the sloped profiles.

A first posterior receptacle 55 is defined under the posterior edge ofthe lower portion 46 towards its first lateral edge and is sized toreceive a first posterior projection 54 of the cover 20. The firstposterior projection 54 of the cover 20 extends in the Y direction fromthe interior surface of the posterior part 22 of the cover 20. Thereceptacle 55 has a substantially _| shaped opening in the step 48 thatextends to the surface of the lower portion 46 of the exposed flip part4 and extends towards but not to the first lateral edge of the flip part4. The cross-section of the first posterior projection 54 of the cover20 in the XZ plane has a corresponding substantially conforming L shape.

The first posterior receptacle 55 may operate as two orthogonallydisposed and interconnected mortises and the first posterior projection54 may operate as two correspondingly disposed tenons that are receivedby the interconnected mortises when the cover 20 is attached to the flippart 4. The two correspondingly disposed tenons include a laterallyextending tenon 54B and a vertically extending tenon 54A.

The laterally extending tenon 54B extends in Y direction and the Xdirection. An engagement gap is defined between the laterally extendingtenon 54B and the interior surface of the upper part 28. When the cover20 is attached to the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2 a portion of theflip part 4 intercedes within the gap and constrains movement in Zdirection. The engaging combination of the laterally extending tenon 54Band the first posterior receptacle 55 prevents the cover 20 beinglifted-off the flip part 4 in the Z direction unless it is first slid inthe Y-direction to disengage the tenon 54B from the receptacle 55.

The vertically extending tenon 54A extends in Y direction and the Zdirection. An engagement gap is defined between the vertically extendingtenon 54A and the interior surface of the first lateral part 24. Whenthe cover 20 is attached to the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2 a portionof the flip part 4 intercedes within the gap and constrains movement inX direction. The engaging combination of the vertically extending tenon54A and the first posterior receptacle 55 prevents the cover 20 beingmoved in the X direction unless it is first slid in the Y-direction todisengage the tenon 54A from the receptacle 55.

The first posterior projection 54 may be resiliently deformable andoperate as a detent or latch for user releasable securing of the coverto the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2.

A second posterior receptacle 57 is defined under the posterior edge ofthe lower portion 46 towards its second lateral edge and is sized toreceive a second posterior projection 56 of the cover 20. The secondposterior projection 56 of the cover 20 extends in the Y direction fromthe interior surface of the posterior part 22 of the cover 20. Thesecond posterior receptacle 55 has a substantially L shaped opening inthe step 48 that extends to the surface of the lower portion 46 of theexposed flip part 4 and extends towards but not to the second lateraledge of the flip part 4. The cross-section of the second posteriorprojection 56 of the cover 20 in the XZ plane has a correspondingsubstantially conforming L shape.

The second posterior receptacle 57 may operate as two orthogonallydisposed and interconnected mortises and the second posterior projection56 may operate as two correspondingly disposed tenons that are receivedby the interconnected mortises when the cover 20 is attached to the flippart 4. The two correspondingly disposed tenons include a laterallyextending tenon 56B and a vertically extending tenon 56A.

The laterally extending tenon 56B extends in the Y direction and the Xdirection. An engagement gap is defined between the laterally extendingtenon 56B and the interior surface of the upper part 28. When the cover20 is attached to the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2 a portion of theflip part 4 intercedes within the gap and constrains movement in Zdirection. The engaging combination of the laterally extending tenon 56Band the second posterior receptacle 57 prevents the cover 20 beinglifted-off the flip part 4 in the Z direction unless it is first slid inthe Y-direction to disengage the tenon 56B from the receptacle 57.

The vertically extending tenon 56A extends in the Y direction and the Zdirection. An engagement gap is defined between the vertically extendingtenon 56A and the interior surface of the first lateral part 24. Whenthe cover 20 is attached to the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2 a portionof the flip part 4 intercedes within the gap and constrains movement inX direction. The engaging combination of the vertically extending tenon56A and the second posterior receptacle 57 prevents the cover 20 beingmoved in the X direction unless it is first slid in the Y-direction todisengage the tenon 56A from the receptacle 57.

The second posterior projection 56 may be resiliently deformable andoperate as a detent or latch for user releasable securing of the coverto the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2.

A third posterior receptacle 59 is defined under the posterior edge ofthe lower portion 46 and is sized to receive a third posteriorprojection 58 of the cover 20. The third posterior projection may be anubbin or lug extending from the interior surface of the posterior part22 of the cover 20

The receptacle 59 has a rectangular shaped opening in the step 48 thatextends to the surface of the lower portion 46 of the exposed flip part4 but does not extend to the lateral edges of the flip part 4. Thecross-section of the third posterior projection 58 of the cover 20 has acorresponding substantially conforming rectangular shape. The nubbin orlug 58 engages the receptacle 59 when the cover is attached to theapparatus 2. It prevents movement of the cover 20 in the X direction.

A projection 41 is defined in the step 48 of the flip part 4 of theapparatus 2. The projection 41 is at a midpoint along the length of thestep 48 and is for the full height h of the step 48 and is sized to bereceived by a recess 42 in the face 29 of the cover 20. The recess 42 isin the form of a cut-out from the upper part 28 of the cover thatresults in a discontinuity in the anterior edge 30. The projection 41may operate as a tenon and the recess 42 may operate as a mortise whenthe cover 20 is attached to the flip part 4. The engaging combination ofthe projection 41 and the recess 42 prevents the cover 20 being moved inthe X direction unless it is first slid in the Y-direction to disengagethe projection 41 from the receptacle 42.

The cover 20 is fitted to the flip part 4 by placing the lower edge 32of the cover so that it straddles the lower portion 46 and abuts theedges of the lower portion 46 of the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2. Thecover 20 is then slid in the Y direction until the anterior edge 30 ofthe cover 20 abuts the step 48 of the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2 andthe tenons 41, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 slidingly engage their respectivemortises 42, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59.

The receptacles 51, 53, 55, 57 and 59 do not extend to the lateral edgesof the flip part 4. Consequentially the structural integrity of the flippart is maintained while enabling the user attachment and detachment ofa cover 20.

FIG. 6A illustrates, from a plan view, an apparatus 2 in a closedconfiguration while it is in use with a removable cover 20 attached. Thedisplay 40 positioned underneath the attached removable cover 20 and isnot activated. FIG. 6B illustrates, from the same plan view, theapparatus 2 when the display 40 underneath the attached removable cover20 is activated. A content 60 of the display 40 is visible through thecover but the display 40 itself is not. The display 40 is thereforehidden behind the cover 40 until the display is activated i.e. its is“hidden 'til lit”.

FIG. 7 illustrates, a cross-sectional view of the attached removablecover 20 and the display 40.

The cover 20 comprises a plastic three dimensional substrate 60 to whichlayers are added to achieve desired optical effects.

The cover has a first part 72 and a second part 70. The second part 70has a different composition and different optical characteristics whencompared to the first part 72. The second part 70 is configured to betranslucent and positioned to overlie the display when the cover 20 isattached to the flip part 4 of the apparatus 2. The content 60 of thedisplay is visible through the second part 74.

A layer 62, 64, 66 may extend over the exterior surface of thesubstrate, including the exterior surfaces of a first part of thesubstrate to form the first part 72 of the cover 20 and an exteriorsurface of a second part of the substrate to form the second part 72 ofthe cover 20. The layer may diffusely reflect light and have a mattappearance.

The first part 72 of the cover 20 and the second part 70 of the cover 20are substantially opaque in exterior ambient lighting and the secondpart 70 of the cover 20 is translucent to backlighting. This enables thecontent 60 of the display 40 to be visible through the second part 70 ofthe cover 20

The second portion 70 of the cover provides an optical diffuser for thelight generated by the display 40.

FIG. 8 illustrates, in detail a cross-section of an example of theremovable cover 20.

A transparent clear plastic substrate 60 has a molded shape. A paintlayer 62 of silver mica or colored mica is applied to the exterior ofthe whole of the substrate 60. This layer may be ˜10 μm thick. Thislayer may be pearlescent. The layer may be colored. A colored paintlayer 64 is applied over the mica layer 62. This layer may be ˜10 μmthick with a thickness that depends upon color. A transparent top coatpaint layer 66 may be applied over the colored paint layer 64. Thetransparent top coat paint layer 66 may, for example, provide a softfeel to the cover 20.

A colored masking layer 68 of paint is applied to the interior of thoseparts of the substrate 60 that correspond to the first part 72 of thecover 20. The masking layer makes the first part 72 opaque tobacklighting. No making layer 68 of paint is applied to the interior ofthose parts of the substrate 60 that correspond to the second part 70 ofthe cover 20. The colored masking layer may be ˜20 μm thick.

Color control is achieved by varying the pigmentation and/or thicknessesof one of more of the layers 62, 64, 68.

Translucency control is achieved by varying the composition and/orthicknesses of one of more of the layers 62, 64, 68.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in thepreceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should beappreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Features described in the preceding description may be used incombinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certainfeatures, those functions may be performable by other features whetherdescribed or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certainembodiments, those features may also be present in other embodimentswhether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the invention believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

1. A user replaceable cover for attachment to and detachment from anapparatus comprising: a first lateral part extending in a firstdirection, a second lateral part disposed opposite the first lateralpart and extending in the first direction, a posterior part extendingsubstantially in a second direction orthogonal to the first directionand joining the first lateral part and the second lateral part and anupper part having extremities and joining at the extremities the firstlateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, whereineach of the first lateral part, the second lateral part, the posteriorpart and the upper part has an interior surface and an exterior surface,the user replaceable cover further comprising: a plurality of sidewallsdefined by the first lateral part, the second lateral part and theposterior part, wherein the sidewalls terminate at a lower edge forabutment with the apparatus; a face defined by the exterior surface ofthe upper part; an anterior edge defined at where the first lateralpart, the second lateral part and the upper part terminate for abutmentwith the apparatus; a first posterior tenon extending from the interiorsurface of the posterior part; a second posterior tenon extending fromthe interior surface of the posterior part; and an anterior tenonextending from the anterior edge of the first lateral part.
 2. A userreplaceable cover as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a secondanterior tenon extending from the anterior edge of the second lateralpart.
 3. A user replaceable cover as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a posterior nubbin extending from the interior surface of theposterior part for constraining movement of the cover when the cover isattached to the apparatus.
 4. A user replaceable cover as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the upper part is shaped to form a mortise in the faceat the anterior edge that is sized and positioned to abut with a tenonof the apparatus and thereby constrain a lateral movement of the coverwith respect to the apparatus when the cover is attached to theapparatus.
 5. A user replaceable cover as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first and second lateral parts have a symmetrically sloped profilesat the anterior edge to constrain movement of the cover while the coveris attached to the apparatus.
 6. A user replaceable cover as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the first posterior tenon defines an engagement gapbetween the first posterior tenon and the interior surface of the upperpart.
 7. A user replaceable cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein thefirst posterior tenon defines an engagement gap between the firstposterior tenon and the interior surface of the first lateral part.
 8. Auser replaceable cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondposterior tenon defines an engagement gap between the second posteriortenon and the interior surface of the upper part.
 9. A user replaceablecover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second posterior tenon definesan engagement gap between the second posterior tenon and the interiorsurface of the second lateral part.
 10. A user replaceable cover asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the first lateral part, the second lateralpart, the posterior part and the upper part are formed from a singlepiece of molded plastic substrate.
 11. A cover for an apparatuscomprising: a substrate defining the cover and having an exteriorsurface; a layer over the exterior surface of the substrate; a firstportion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having a firstcomposition and defining a first portion of the cover; a second portionof the substrate, underlying the layer, having a second composition anddefining a second portion of the cover; wherein the first portion of thecover and the second portion of the cover are substantially opaque inexterior ambient lighting and the second portion of the cover istranslucent to backlighting.
 12. A cover as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe first portion of the substrate has an optical mask to make it opaqueto backlighting.
 13. A cover as claimed in claim 11, wherein secondportion of the cover optically diffuses the backlighting.
 14. A cover asclaimed in claim 11, wherein layer provides for diffuse reflection ofexterior ambient lighting.
 15. A cover as claimed in claim 11,configured to be user interchangeable with a cover attached to theapparatus.
 16. An apparatus comprising a cover as claimed in claim 11.17. A cover for attachment to an apparatus having a light emittingdisplay, the cover comprising: a substrate defining a three dimensionalshape of the cover and having a exterior surface, wherein when the coveris attached to the apparatus, a first part of the substrate, configuredto be translucent, overlies the display; and a layer over the exteriorsurface of the substrate, including the exterior surface of the firstpart of the substrate, that diffusely reflects light, wherein when thecover is attached to the apparatus, an output of the display is visiblethrough the cover.
 18. A cover as claimed in claim 17, configured to beuser interchangeable with a cover attached to the apparatus.
 19. Anapparatus comprising a cover as claimed in claim
 17. 20. A userreplaceable cover for user attachment to and user detachment from a flippart of an apparatus having a light emitting display, the covercomprising: a substrate defining a three dimensional shape of the coverand configured to engage with the flip part of the apparatus, thesubstrate having a first part configured to be translucent and beingpositioned to overlie the display, wherein when the cover is attached tothe flip part of the apparatus, an output of the display is visiblethrough the cover.
 21. A cover as claimed in claim 20, configured to beuser interchangeable with a cover attached to the apparatus.
 22. Anapparatus comprising a cover as claimed in claim
 20. 23. A cover for anapparatus having a light emitting display, the cover comprising: asubstrate defining a three dimensional shape of the cover and configuredto engage with the apparatus, the substrate having a first partconfigured to be translucent and being positioned to overlie thedisplay, wherein when the cover is attached to the apparatus, an outputof the display is visible through the cover.
 24. A cover as claimed inclaim 23, wherein a layer that diffusely reflects light extends over theexterior surface of the substrate, including the exterior surface of thefirst part of the substrate.
 25. A cover as claimed in claim 24,comprising: a first portion of the substrate, underlying the layer,having a first composition and defining a first portion of the cover;and a second portion of the substrate, underlying the layer, having asecond composition and defining a second portion of the cover; whereinthe first portion of the cover and the second portion of the cover aresubstantially opaque in exterior ambient lighting and the second portionof the cover is translucent to backlighting.
 26. A cover as claimed inclaim 23, comprising a first lateral part extending in a firstdirection, a second lateral part disposed opposite the first lateralpart and extending in the first direction, a posterior part extendingsubstantially in a second direction orthogonal to the first directionand joining the first lateral part and the second lateral part and anupper part having extremities and joining at the extremities the firstlateral part, the second lateral part and the posterior part, whereineach of the first lateral part, the second lateral part, the posteriorpart and the upper part has an interior surface and an exterior surface,the user replaceable cover further comprising: a plurality of sidewallsdefined by the first lateral part, the second lateral part and theposterior part, wherein the sidewalls terminate at a lower edge forabutment with the apparatus; a face defined by the exterior surface ofthe upper part; an anterior edge defined at where the first lateralpart, the second lateral part and the upper part terminate for abutmentwith the apparatus; a first posterior tenon extending from the interiorsurface of the posterior part; a second posterior tenon extending fromthe interior surface of the posterior part; and an anterior tenonextending from the anterior edge of the first lateral part.
 27. A coveras claimed in claim 23, configured to be user interchangeable with acover attached to the apparatus.
 28. A cover as claimed in claim 23,configured to be user attachable and user detachable from a flip part ofthe apparatus, wherein the flip part has a light emitting display, andthe substrate is configured to engage with the flip part of theapparatus, such that when the cover is attached to the flip part of theapparatus, an output of the display is visible through the cover.
 29. Anapparatus comprising a cover as claimed in claim 23.